Adjustable rack shelving



Oct. 10, 1967 BLQQM ET AL 3,346,126

ADJUSTABLE RACK SHELVING Filed June 28, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS MILTON BLOOM RUBIN BLU M MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM Bu PINE ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1967 BLQQM ET AL ADJUSTABLE RACK SHELVING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1965 FIG. 2

FIG."3

INVENTORS MILTON BLOOM RUBIN BLUM BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN, DURHAM a PINE ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1967 BLOOM ET AL 3,346,126

ADJUSTABLE RACK SHELVING 5 Sheetsiheet 3 Filed June 28, 1965 INVENTORS MILTON BLOOM RUBIN BLUM BY MORGAN, FINNEGAN. DURHAM 8x PINE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,346,126 ADJUSTABLE RACK SHELVING Milton Bloom, 38-29 Grant St., Fair Lawn, NJ. 07410, and Rubin Blum, 312 E. 24th St., Paterson, NJ. 07 514 Filed June 28, 1965, Ser. No. 467,527 Claims. (Cl. 211-176) This invention relates generally to adjustable shelving of utility especially in the warehouse storage of pallets carrying bulk materials and relates more particularly to certain new and useful improvements in the support connections for adjustable storage racks.

In the storage of materials, it is, of course, very desirable to utilize the maximum amount of space between the floors and ceilings of the warehouse or storage building. This has been previously recognized and many proposals have been made for providing adjustable shelving racks whereby the space between racks may be adjusted so as to accommodate various sized materials.

Heretofore, when used for the storage of pallets carrying heavy bulk materials, these prior proposals have suffered from one or more disadvantageous structural features in the supporting connections for the racks. Thus, the support connections either have not provided a quick disconnect, or have been subject to break-age under heavy loads, or have been subject to accidental disengagement during the loading of the pallets onto the rack shelves.

The support connection of the subject invention eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art by (1) providing an adjustable rack shelving in which the racks may be easily and quickly connected and disconnected to the upright frame so as to be quickly adjusted to the desired position; (2) withstanding heavy loads without shearing or otherwise failing; and (3) preventing accidental disengagement of the racks during the loading operation.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a novel and improved supporting connection for adjustable rack shelving which eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved supporting connection for adjustable rack shelving which permits the racks to be easily and quickly connected and disconnected to the upright frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved supporting connection for adjustable rack shelving which prevents accidental disengagement of the rack from the upright frame.

Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part herein and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

Briefly described, the present invention comprises a supporting connector for adjustable storage racks including a locking plate secured to the end of a cross supporting beam which serves as the rack shelf, a backing plate having button-headed studs mounted thereon adapted to be inserted through holes formed in an upright beam which serves as a part of the rack frame and also through keyhole slots formed in the locking plate until the stud shanks fit in the narrow portion of the keyhole slots, and safety means preventing accidental disengagement of the cross beam from the upright beam during loading of pallets onto the shelves. As here preferably embodied, this safety means comprises a spacer clip member normally riding in the bottom of the keyhole slot, which prevents the stud head from returning to the wider portion of the keyhole slot.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded isometric view, partly fragmentary, illustrating the order to assemblage of a safety supporting connection embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation, partly in section and partly fragmentary, illustrating the adjustable storage rack-safety connection of FIGURE 1 in assembled relationship;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing in greater detail the spacer clip member of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view in front elevation, partly fragmentary, showing the safety supporting connection embodying the invention applied to a plurality of adjustable rack shelving members.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a fragmentary portion of a cross supporting beam 10; a locking plate 12; a spacer clip member 14; a fragmentary portion of a vertical, or upright, beam 16; and a backing plate 18.

Locking plate 12 preferably comprises an angle iron 13 having one side 19 thereof welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the end of cross supporting beam 10. The other side 20 of plate 12 has formed therein two spaced keyhole slots 22.

Locking plate 12 is adapted to fit against the front and one edge of an upright channel beam 16, which forms the vertical support for a storage rack. Beam 16 has formed therein two rows of equi-spaced holes 25, 26, the distance between holes in each row being equal to the spacing between keyhole slots 22 in the locking plate 12, each row extending substantially the length of the beam. The two rows of holes 25, 26 are spaced transversely of the beam so that when locking plate 12 is fitted against the front and one edge thereof, keyhole slots 22 are aligned directly over two of the holes in one of the rows.

Backing plate 18 has mounted thereon two aligned button-headed studs 29, spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of holes 25 or 26 and keyhole slots 22. The button heads of studs 29 are of a diameter slightly less than the diameter of holes 25 or 26 and the hole portion 22b of keyhole slot 22, but larger than the slot portion 22a of keyhole slot 22. The shanks 30 of studs 29 are of a diameter slightly less than the slot portion 22a of the keyhole slots 22, and extend from backing plate 18 a distance slightly greater than the combined thickness of beam 16 and locking plate 12. Studs 29 are preferably mounted to backing plate 18 by forming holes therethrough and inserting the shanks 30 therein until the ends of the shanks are flush with the rear plate surface, at which position the shanks are welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the plate.

With the foregoing description in mind, the connection of a cross supporting beam to an upright beam in accordance with the invention is as follows. Studs 29 of backing plate 18 are inserted through two holes 25 on upright beam 16 at the desired level for the cross supporting beam 10 until plate 18 contacts the rear surface of the front face of beam 16. The enlarged portion 22b of keyhole slots 22 is then fitted over the button heads of studs 29 and the locking plate 12 dropped onto the stud shanks so that the shanks are positioned in the slot portions 22a of the keyholes. The diameter of the button heads being larger than that of the slot portions of the keyhole slots, the cross supporting beam is thereby connected to the upright beam.

It will be understood that the opposite end of crossbeam 10 is connected to another upright beam in a similar manner, the two rows of holes 25, 26 being sufl'iciently transversely distanced apart to accommodate two locking plates and two backing plates at the same level.

Thus there is provided a supporting connection providing a quick, easy connection for an adjustable storage rack. Also, this connection is of strong construction, capable of withstanding extremely heavy loads. It has been found that by mounting the stress receiving studs to a separate plate, as opposed, for example, to welding the studs to the upright beams, a considerably stronger resistance to shearing is achieved.

In accordance with the invention, safety means is provided for preventing accidental disengagement of the crossbeam from the upright beam. Heretofore, such disengagement frequently occurred during the loading of pallets onto the beams, usually caused by some part of the loading truck striking an upward blow to the beam, causing the locking plate to be raised, thereby exposing the button heads of the studs to the larger diametered lower portion of the keyhole slots.

As here preferably embodied, this means comprises a clip-like spacer member 14, having a solid, round head 34 mounted by a welding, or other suitable means, to one end of a flat thin plate 35. In use, plate 35 is slipped between side Zt) of locking plate 12 and the front face of beam 16, whereby head 34 normally freely rides on the bottom of keyhole slot 22. It Will be understood that plate 35 is of a length which permits it to be inserted through keyhole slot 22 after the stud head 29 has been located therein and yet hold the spacer head 34 in the slot while permitting the spacer head to move freely therewithin. As illustrated in FIGURE 2, head 34 is preferably of a thickness greater than that of side of locking plate 12 and of a sufficient diameter so that it will engage the button head of stud 29 before the latter registers with the larger diametered lower portion of the keyhole slot. It has been found that when the button head of stud 29 is slightly less than the diameter of the lower portion of keyhole slot 22, satisfactory results are achieved with a head 34 of a diameter approximately one-half the diameter of the lower portion of the keyhole slot.

It will thus be seen that with spacer 14 in place, accidental disengagement of crossbeam 10 from upright beam 16 is not possible, since the upward movement of locking plate 12 is limited to a distance insufficient for the button head of stud 29 to clear the narrow portion of the keyhole slot. Also, it will be seen that since the force of an upward blow on crossbeam 10 will be received by diametrically opposed sides of head 34, the spacer is capable of resisting heavy blows without failure.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiment herein shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. Connecting means for connecting a cross supporting beam to an upright beam, comprising: a locking plate affixed to said crossbeam, said locking plate having slot means formed therein; a backing plate having stud means mounted theeron, said stud means adapted to be simultaneously aligned with spaced apertures formed in said upright beam and said slot means of said locking plate, whereby said backing plate is brought into locking engagement with said upright beam; and safety means preventing accidental disengagement of said backing plate from said locking plate, said safety means comprising a spacer member having a thin plate member with a head portion extending therefrom, said head portion being inserted into said slot means after said stud means has been brought into locking engagement therewith, said thin plate member being positioned between said locking plate and said upright beam, said head portion preventing said stud means from being disengaged from said locking plate.

2. A safety connection for connecting a cross supporting beam to an upright beam comprising: a locking plate; means mounting said locking plate to an end of said cross supporting beam; said locking plate having slot means formed therein, said slot means adapted to be registered With spaced apertures formed in said upright beam, said slot means including a wide lower portion and a narrow upper portion; a backing plate; means mounting stud means onto said backing plate; said stud means having a head portion and a shank portion, said head portion having a diameter less than the wide portion of said slot means but greater than the narrow portion of said slot means, said stud means adapted to be simultaneously registered with said spaced apertures and said slot means and to be extended therethrough, whereby said narrow portion of said slot means fits onto said stud shank; and safety means preventing accidental disengagement of said backing plate from said locking plate, said safety means including spacer means freely riding on the bottom of said slot means in said locking plate, said spacer means being of sufiicient length so as to prevent said stud head from returning to the wider portion of said slot means.

3. A safety connection as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said spacer means comprises a round head mounted to one end of an elongated plate, said head extending beyond the outer surface of said locking plate so as to engage said stud head, said plate being positioned between said locking plate and the front face of said upright beam so as to hold said head in said keyhole slot.

4. An adjustable storage rack comprising: a plurality of upright beams, each of said beams having a series of equi-spaced apertures formed along the longitudinal axis thereof; at least two cross supporting beams; a locking plate affixed to each end of each of said crossbeams, each of said locking plates having slot means formed therein; a plurality of backing plates each having stud means mounted thereon, said stud means adapted to be simultaneously aligned with spaced apertures formed in said upright beam and said slot means ofeach of said locking plates, whereby said backing plates are brought into locking engagement with said upright beams; and safety means preventing accidental disengagement of said back ing plates from said locking plates, said safety means comprising a spacer member having a thin plate member with a head portion extending therefrom, said head portion being inserted into said slot means of each of said locking plates after said stud means has been brought into locking engagement therewith, said thin plate member being positioned between said locking plate and said upright beam, said head portion preventing said stud means from being disengaged from said locking plates.

5. In a connector for connecting a cross supporting beam to an upright beam including a locking plate affixed to said crossbeam, and wherein the locking plate is supported on said upright beam by means of a separate backing plate having projection means mounted thereon passing through apertures formed in both said locking plate and said upright beam, safety means preventing acci dental disengagement of said backing plate from said locking plate, said safety means comprising spacer means positioned in at least one of said apertures of said locking plate after said projection means of said backing plate has passed therethrough and plate means extending from said spacer means and positioned between said locking plate and said upright beam so as to hold said spacer means in said aperture of said locking plate, said spacer means adapted to engage said projection means so as to prevent 6 said backing plate from being disengaged from said lock- 3,096,108 7/1963 Baybarz 287-54 ing plate. 3,186,527 6/1965 Konstant et a1 287-48935 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. 2,932,409 4/1960 Wineman 211-176 5 CLAUDE LE ROY, Examine- 2,984,363 5/1961 Lang et a1 211148 W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. CONNECTING MEANS FOR CONNECTING A CROSS SUPPORTING BEAM TO AN UPRIGHT BEAM, COMPRISING: A LOCKING PLATE AFFIXED TO SAID CROSSBEAM, SAID LOCKING PLATE HAVING SLOT MEANS FORMED THEREIN; A BACKING PLATE HAVING STUD MEANS MOUNTED THEREIN, SAID STUD MEANS ADAPTED TO BE SIMULTANEOUSLY ALIGNED WITH SPACED APERTURES FORMED IN SAID UPRIGHT BEAM AND SAID SLOT MEANS OF SAID LOCKING PLATE, WHEREBY SAID BACKING PLATE IS BROUGHT INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UPRIGHT BEAM; AND SAFETY MEANS PREVENTING ACCIDENTAL DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID BACKING PLATE FROM SAID LOCKING PLATE, SAID SAFETY MEANS COMPRISING A SPACER MEMBER HAVING A THIN PLATE MEMBER WITH A HEAD PORTION EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID HEAD PORTION BEING INSERTED INTO SAID SLOT MEANS AFTER SAID STUD MEANS HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO LOCKING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, SAID THIN PLATE MEMBER BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID LOCKING PLATE AND SAID UPRIGHT BEAM, SAID HEAD PORTION PREVENTING SAID STUD MEANS FROM BEING DISENGAGED FROM SAID LOCKING PLATE. 